Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE)
Suzuki Early Childhood Education is for infants and young children, ages 0-3 years old.
In SECE students and their caregiver attend a weekly music and movement group class where they develop rhythmic and melodic awareness, and learn through interacting with other children. The repertoire for the class includes traditional lullabies, action songs, poetry, and nursery rhymes. Students hear and have the opportunity to play percussion instruments such as glockenspiel, triangle, drum, xylophone, and shakers. Attention, gross and fine motor skills, pitch and rhythmic skills, and musical vocabulary are all developed in this course. Because of the skills they master in Suzuki Early Childhood Education, most children in the program are ready to begin instrumental studies at a very young age.
Twinklegarten (Ages 3-5)
Twinklegarten is intended for young pre-instrumental and choral students, ages 3-5, and their caregiver. While there is no prerequisite or additional study required for this course, Twinklegarten serves as an ideal continuation for students who have been through one or more years of Suzuki Early Childhood Education and are turning 4 during the 2023-24 academic year.
Twinklegarten combines elements from early childhood music education with the skill building that will support an instrumental or choral path. Twinklegarten students use their voices, play instruments, move their bodies, try out tongue twisters, and tell stories, all while building skills to get them ready for their next steps in music. The course will focus on musical skills such as rhythmic and melodic understanding, social interaction, being part of an ensemble, listening, and pre instrumental gross and fine motor skills. Using a wide variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments, Twinklegarten students will learn to sing and accompany familiar and new melodies. They will explore playful music making, with opportunities for expression, using both ensemble training and creative improvisation.
Brass André Ensemble (age 4-10 years)
This class is for beginning and young Suzuki brass students and the practicing parent. It is crucial for students and parents to learn to work together, as well as layer the foundation for setting up proper technique completely before playing songs. Students will work on fundamentals applicable to beginning and early brass players, as well as Book I repertoire, with beginners developing competent performance of the Twinkle Theme and Variations, and established players material into the end of Book I, by the end of the course. There will be a separate parent-only class scheduled during the first four weeks; parents will be learning about the Suzuki philosophy and how to play a brass instrument. Parents are required to read Nurtured by Love by S. Suzuki, and come to classes with Suzuki Trumpet Book 1 (Suzuki Trombone Book 1 will be provided for those students studying trombone) and an adult-sized instrument. More details on instruments for parents and students will be forthcoming.
(Eurhythmics is highly recommended for all beginners.)
Cello Suzuki Ensemble (Pre-Twinkle-Twinkle)
This class is for beginning Suzuki cello students and the practicing parent. It is a very important stage for students and parents to learn to work together, as well as layer the foundation for setting up proper technique completely before playing songs. Students will work on beginning foundational steps and cover the Twinkle variations and Twinkle Theme over the course of the year. The first 6-8 classes are for the parents only; parents will be learning about the Suzuki philosophy and learning to play the Twinkle Variations and Theme. Parents are required to read Nurtured by Love by Shinichi Suzuki and Beyond the Music Lesson by Christine Goodner, rent a full size cello if you do not have one, and come to classes with the Suzuki Cello Book, Vol. 1, revised edition.
(Eurhythmics is highly recommended for all beginners.)
Cello Casals Ensemble (Book 1-2A)
This class is for students who are working on Lightly Row in Book 1 up to Book 2 on May Time at the beginning of the fall semester. This class will cover fundamental ensemble skills and technique with the goal of developing note reading by the end of the year.
(Eurhythmics and choir are recommended at this level)
Cello Rostropovich Ensemble (Book 2-3)
This class is for students who are working on the beginning of Book 2 May time and book 2 at the beginning of the fall. This class will review Book 1 and work on technique and supplemental repertoire at Book 2-3 level. Students must have a basic understanding of reading music to participate in the Rostropovich Ensemble.
(Orchestra and beginning theory are recommended at this level.)
Violin and Viola Suzuki Ensemble (Pre-Twinkle/Twinkle)
This class is for beginning Suzuki students and the practicing parent. It is a very important stage for students and parents to learn to work together, as well as layer the foundation for setting up proper technique completely before playing songs. Students will work on beginning foundational steps and cover the Twinkle variations and Twinkle Theme over the course of the year. The first 6-8 classes are for the parents only; parents will be learning about the Suzuki philosophy and learning how to play a string instrument. Parents are required to read Nurtured by Love by S. Suzuki and Beyond the Music Lesson by Christine Goodner, rent a full size violin or viola if you do not have one, and come to classes with the Suzuki Violin Book l, Vol. 1, revised edition.
(Eurhythmics is highly recommended for all beginners.)
Violin DeLay Ensemble (Book 1A)
This class is for students who are working on pieces in Book 1 up to Perpetual Motion at the beginning of the fall semester. This class will cover review from early Book 1 and middle of Book 1 repertoire and technique at the beginning of the year. As the year progresses and the students develop, technique for repertoire in the later half of Book 1 will be covered as appropriate.
(Eurhythmics and choir are highly recommended at this level.)
Violin Gingold Ensemble (Book 1B)
This class is for students who are working on pieces in the middle of Book 1 at the beginning of the fall semester. This class will cover review from early Book 1 and middle of Book 1 repertoire and technique at the beginning of the year. As the year progresses and the students develop, technique for repertoire in the later half of Book 1 will be covered as appropriate.
(Eurhythmics and choir are highly recommended at this level.)
Violin Milstein Ensemble (Book 1C)
This class is for students who are working on the end of Book 1 (Etude+) at the beginning of the fall semester. This class will review Book 1 and work on technique and supplemental repertoire at the Book 2 level. As the year progresses, we will cover pieces at the beginning of Book 2 level as well.
(Eurhythmics and choir are recommended at this level.)
Violin Kreisler Ensemble (Book 1C-Book 2)
This class is for students who are working on the end of Book 1 (Minuet 2+) and the beginning of Book 2 at the beginning of the fall semester. This class will review Book 1 and work on technique and supplemental repertoire at the Book 2 level.
(Eurhythmics and choir are recommended at this level. )
Violin Boccherini Ensemble (Book 2-3A)
This class is for students working on pieces in the middle of Suzuki Book 2 and the beginning of Book 3 at the beginning of the fall semester. Review from Books 1 and 2 will be covered as well as more advanced technique and supplemental repertoire for this level.
(Orchestra and beginning theory are recommended at this level.)
Violin Heifetz Ensemble (Book 3B-4)
This class is for students in Book 3 and 4 at the beginning of the fall semester. Review from Books 1-3 will be covered in this class, as well as more advanced technique and supplemental repertoire appropriate for this level.
(Orchestra and theory are recommended at this level.)
Viola beginner Pre-Twinkle class meets with Violin Pre-Twinkle class. See above description for the Violin/Viola Pre-Twinkle Ensemble and requirements.
Viola Clarke Ensemble Book 1
This class is for violists in Book 1 and 2, and pre-music readers at the beginning of the fall semester.
(Eurhythmics and Chorus are recommended at this level.)
Viola Hindemith Ensemble (Book 3+)
This class is for violists in Book 3 and up at the beginning of the fall semester. Students must have a basic understanding of reading music to participate in the Hindemith ensemble.
(Eurhythmics, Chorus, Chamber Music, and/or Orchestra are recommended at this level.)
